Police arrested a pair of clerks in a bust of East Walpole News who were allegedly selling drug paraphernalia to minors.

Deputy Police Chief John Carmichael said the an investigation led to the arrest of two employees at East Walpole News on Washington Street after undercover officers had a minor to buy pipes and marijuana equipment from the store around 2 p.m..

Carmichael said concerned parents who thought children were buying marijuana paraphernalia from the store tipped off the police, prompting the search.

Police arrested Rose Nakhoul, of 1537 High St. in Westwood, and a 17-year-old boy who was also working at the store on five counts of distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Two undercover successfully bought marijuana pipes, grinders and screens to go in the pipes on Thursday, police said. The clerk on duty that day was not present at the time of the arrests, Carmichael said, and has not yet been charged.

On Monday, the officers brought in a minor, who asked to see wares the clerks kept hidden under the counter, police said. The clerks reportedly showed the minor the paraphernalia, and explained how to use the items before selling them.

Carmichael said the undercover officers and the minor informed the clerks they would be using the pipes for illicit drugs.

In Massachusetts, it is not illegal to possess drug paraphernalia, but it is illegal to sell it. Selling paraphernalia carries a one-year prison sentence, and selling to minors carries three to five years, Carmichael said.

"Those items themselves may be nothing but when you have intent to use those for illicit drug purposes, thatís when we have a problem with it, especially when youíre involving young kids," Carmichael said. "We look at it as by them doing what they did, theyíre facilitating illicit drug use. We canít allow that."

Carmichael said police believe the store was selling paraphernalia to children as young as 14 or 15 years old.

Police seized all evidence from the store as a result of their search warrant. Carmichael said they intend to charge the clerk present during their investigation on Thursday, but have not yet identified him.